It's too dark and I can't sleep, maybe Rockie will let me sleep with him, if he's still awake as I don't want to bother him if he is sleeping since Gamora went on a mission with the Ravagers.
It was late-night into early morning and in her room, a three year old female-cub named Casey-Wyndheim Raccoon couldn't sleep as she was afraid of the dark being a lil cub and the nightlight needed new batteries which Rocket being busy, he'd forgotten to put fresh batteries in it so she grabbed her stuffed tenuki, Bento in her furry arms leaving her room going down the hall to Rocket and Gamora's room, opening the door softly hearing soft snoring making her smile climbing onto Gamora's side of the big bed feeling safer being near her big brother cuddling Bento gently yawning falling asleep and Rocket could feel somebody sleeping beside him, opening an eye grinning.
I guess she couldn't sleep, plus I forgot to put batteries in her nightlight, she should have asked dad or mom as they live in this embiggened house but I don't mind as I miss Gamora when she goes on missions.
"It's okay, kiddo as I was afraid of the dark at your age, but dad and Jupiter helped me be brave so I can help you if you want." he whispered to her seeing a smile on her furry face in sleep guessing she'd heard him which was a good thing going back to sleep because he needed it for his body, brain and cybernetics to function hoping Jupiter and Herbert were sleeping peacefully.
Later that morning, his alarm on the phone went off hoping Casey was alright and getting enough sleep to grow big and stromg for her many powers to function kissing her nose hearing Jupiter knocking softly on the door seeing Rocket putting a finger to his mouth signalling to be quiet pointing to Casey who was asleep beside him making her smile at her elder cub being sweet with his lil sister asking what happened.
"She came in here earlier this morning, but I just let her and Bento stay, I did forget to put new batteries in her nightlight along with telling her, we'd help her be brave with it like you guys helped me at her age." he told her seeing her hug him surprising him, smelling pancakes gently poking Casey gently seeing her begin to stir slowly rubbing sleep from her eyes hugging him alomg with takig Bento back to her room tucking him into her bed then goin to pee flying downstairs landing on the carpeted floor going into the kitchen seeing Herbert cooking pancakes on the griddle, making her happy pouring orange-juice into a glass sipping seeing Rocket entering grabbing condiments from the fridge, sitting down beside her drinking coffee to wake himself up mentally for the day being vice-dean of Avengers Campus.
"Here we go, Groot Morning pancakes, I hope they're as good as your brother's." Herbert told Casey seeing her putting chocolate-syrup and whipped cream with sprinkles hearing Rocket chuckling at her doing that knowing she was not in pre-school because of her powers freaking the teacher out, despite her peers loving that so Jupiter and Herbert were teaching her things like controlling her many powers as Jupiter had control of hers.
"Uh-huh just as good, and hope Rocket has a good day." she replied inbetween bites making Jupiter and Herbert understand as she cared about her brother plus unaware of some of the things he had in his collection like vibranium from the Winter Soldier's arm which he was using for tech and had a secret nest which Herbert had no clue about seeing Rocket leaving after a while making Casey sigh, going to her room after a bit when her mom had been teaching her to use her powers
"Hey Casey come out and hang out." she heard familar voices saying as it was her best raccoon pals Peach and Raya opening her bedroom window flying out landing beside them paw-bumping scampering off which Herbert saw grinning as it was helping distract her until Rocket came home as Jupiter was resting and he was doing science stuff she was too little to help with knowing she'd be okay as Peach and Raya wouldn't let Casey get hurt.
"Sorry guys I just had power-practice with my mom plus Rockie went to school and Herbie's doing stuff I can't help with." Casey told them as they were playing in the forest area of Avengers Campus where Peach and Raya lived which she didn't tell Rocket as he might tell Captain Marvel who was the dean of Avengers Campus which she didn't want to happen hanging out and climbing trees.
Casey grinned as she returned to the housewith scrapes from climbing trees with Peach and Raya heading to the bathroom gleaning up before joining her mom and Herbert for a snack flying downstairs' running into the kitchen seeing her stepdad had made tea and scones which she, her mom and Rocket loved unaware he was helpingher with her social-skills as Rocket had told them about pre-school at Avengers Campus that she'd fit into well without worrying about her powers so were helping her with her social skills asking her what she'd been doijg all morning making her grin.
"I was hanging out with Peach and Raya doing stuff like climbing trees, but I cleaned up before coming down." Casey told them sipping tea making Jupiter grin as she knew this while she'd been resting and Herbert had been doing stuff in his lab that Rocket helped with wondering why they were having a tea-party seeing them exchange a grin telling her what Rocket had texted them about seeing an anxious look on her furry face about this making Jupiter understand her cub's anxiety handing her an napkin.
"This is a different one, where there are cubs that have powers so it's okay." she reassured her.
"I guess if Rockie thinks I can do this, then I can try just hope I don't get kicked out." she replied.
"Of course you won't as you're adorable despite having powers." Jupiter replied to her handing her tea.
Rocket grinnedreturning, seeing Casey playing and colouring a bit later seeing her hug his armoured leg making him chuckle guessing Jupiter had told her what was happening surprised that she was so calm falling onto the couch seeing Herbert there wearing safety goggles happy to see him home.
"Welcome home my prince, how was your day." he asked sitting down beside him.
"A long one but surprised that Casey's calm about pre-school." he said to him.
"We had a tea-party to help her like the idea Rocket." he replied to him.
"We saved you scones as we know you like them." Casey told him.
Jupiter then returned with groceries happy to see Rocket home, but tired suggesting he take an nap seeing him nod going upstairs to his and Gamora's room unaware she was back making Casey happy hugging her leg hearing Gamora laugh at the female-cub's sweetness asking where Rocket was hearing her say her big brother was taking an nap making her get it helping Jupiter in the kitchen.
"Come on honey, it's time to start getting ready for bed." Jupiter said to Casey as she, Herbert andRocket had been playing poker but to Casey, she thought they were playing cards seeing Jupiter there, as it was almost Casey's bedtime knowing some nights she wanted to stay up and see what fun stuff Rocket would be doing, seeing he and Gamora had their blasters and empty soda cans which she wanted to see, until her mom said that she needed her rest to grow including when it was her nap time which she'd skipped today, which Rocket noticed because she'd been yawning a lot andzoning out a lot knowing she needed sleep.
"Yeah, mom's right, as you look sleepy, really sleepy plus you didn't have an nap." Rocket pointed out ruffling her shoulder-length hair hearing her giggle then yawning following her mom upstairs making Herbert and Rocket chuckle knowing she would be splashing having her bath, hearing that and Jupiter laughing while drying her off seeing Casey super-speed into her room putting on her favourite pyjamas which was comfortable for her fur that didn't make her sweat when she slept going back downstairs to have her bedtime snack seeing Herbert making hot cocoa which the female-cub smelt alojg with cookies, one of her favourite bedtime snacks hugging Rocket's armoured leg hearing him chuckle.
"Somebody smells good after her bath, but we should calm down, maybe have a story when we go upstairs oh yeah we got you an nightlight that has a charger which should help you feel better along with Bento." he told her seeing her smile.
"Thanks Rockie, you're the best." she said to him seeing him smile.
"It's okay as we're family us against the galaxy." he told her seeing her nodding thinking hearing him ask, if it involved Raccoon Girl, her superheroic alter ego from the bedtime stories Rocket told her which she helped with whispering into his furry ear making Herbert smile.
"Yeah I'm sure she'd have a big brother lookijg out for her, making sure she doesn't get hurt or get lost in the multiverse." he replied to her making her grin sipping hot cocoa as Rocket was letting it kick in and make her more relaxed and saw it was happening taking her upstairs on his armoured back to her room dumping her onto her bed seeing her getting into it cuddling her stuffed tenuki, Bento as he was telling her a story about Raccoon Girl anxious about going to school and her big brother helping her recording it on her musicplayrr like she always did, when Rocket told her stories seeing her out like a light kissing her furry head turning on her nightlight leaving her room closing the door gently smiling going to his and Gamora's room hearing Gamora askijg why he was so happy.
"Just Casey being sweet and was telling her a story." he said kissing her.
"You're a good big brother and wish Nebula had been like that, when we were growing up." she replied.
"Nebula did give me Bucky's arm for Christmas, maybe she's trying to be nicer." he replied to her..
They were having pillow talk unaware that Herbert was listening to, smirking knowing Gamora was important to his prince hearing Jupiter calling him realising he'd been spying on Rocket and Gamora hoping Rocket didn't find out or Casey didn't wake up and come into her and Herbert's room seeing him get into bed beside her kissing her saying he was being a good father seeing her grin.
"I know but Rocket's okay, he knows what he's doing." she told him.
"I know but to me, he's my lil prince." Herbert told her as he had a photo album which had photos of Rocket growing up with him and Jupiter which always warmed his heart when he looked through it like when he showed Casey wanting to add photos of her to the album along with photos of them as a family yawning as he and Jupiter kissed each other before falling asleep but next morning found Casey on their bed which was sweet knowing she'd slept through the night just wanting to cuddle with them.
"She's so sweet and we still have her, even if Rocket has Gamora." Jupiter said to Herbert.